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Sir, — Mines Department, Wellington, N.Z., Ist December, 1903. I am directed by the Hon. the Minister of Mines to inform you that after inquiry it has been decided not to refuse consent under the Coal-mines Act to the issue of two leases indicated on the accompanying tracing, that is, a lease to the Huntly Coal-prospecting Association of the areas marked B, hatched red, and a lease to the Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited) of the area marked A, hatched blue, on the following conditions : — Area A. —Eoyalty, 6d. per ton on all coal sold. Rent, 2s. per acre. 1,000 tons of coal to be produced within two years. Output for third year, 3,000 tons ; output for fourth year, 4,500 tons ; output for fifth year, 9,000 tons ; output for sixth and succeeding years, 10,000 tons. Application can accordingly be made by the Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited) for the area marked A to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, who will deal with it on compliance with the requirements of the Coal-mines Act in respect to payment of deposit, advertising, &c. I have, &c, H. J. H. Eliott, Under-Secretary. The Secretary, Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Auckland.

Sir, — Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Auckland, 29th December, 1903. The Under-Secretary for Mines informs me in his letter dated the Ist December, that application can now be made by our company for that portion of Lake Wahi marked Aon plan. I therefore beg to apply for a coal lease of Area A, Lake Wahi, containing about 250 acres. The amounts paid to you as deposits on former applications for lease of Wahi Lake —viz., £37 10s. on the 22nd August, 1902, and £23 14s. on the 4th March, 1903, making a total of £61 45., please transfer to the credit of the present application. I have, &c, The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Feanz Scheeff, Secretary.

Department of Lands and Survey, District Office, Auckland, 11th January, 1904. Re Application, Coal-mining Lease, Wahi Lake. In answer to yours of the 29th ultimo, I have to state that up to the present I have received no notification of the decision come to by the Government, and therefore cannot as yet take action as requested. I have written to the Mines Department asking the Secretary to inform me what has been decided upon. • Gγ. Mueller, The Secretary, Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Auckland. Assistant Surveyor-General.

Sib, — Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Auckland, 18th May, 1904. I have the honour to forward herewith lease of part of Wahi Lake, in triplicate, duly signed by the directors of this company. . I have, &c, The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. Franz Scherff, Secretary.

Department of Lands and Survey, District Office, Auckland, 11th July, 1904. I beg to request you to pay to the Receiver of Land Revenue, Auckland, £1 Is., fee for coal lease of portion of the Wahi Lake. James Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crowu Lands. The Secretary, Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), Auckland. (Per P. X.)

Revenue Receipt No. A 2, 25578. Lease No. Auckland, District Office, 6th August, 1904. Received from Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), as lease fee for portion of Wahi Lake marked A, 230 acres, the sum of one pound one shilling. T. M. Tayloe, £1 la. Receiver of Land Revenue.

g IB) Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 9th September, 1904. I have the' honour to forward herewith for the information of your Committee copies of applications, together with public notices, of the Huntly Coal-prospecting Syndicate, the Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), and James R. Hetherington, for coal-mining leases at Lakes Wahi and Rotoiti. I have, &c, Wμ. C. Kensington, Under-Secretary. The Chairman, Mines Committee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

Dbak Sic, The Huntly Coal-prospecting Syndicate, Huntly, 9th April, 1903. On behalf of the Huntly Coal-prospecting Syndicate, I beg to apply for the extension of our boundaries (of our application) for the whole area of Lakes Wahi and Rotoiti, comprising in all 1,300 acres, more or less, for coal-mining purposes. We have complied with the Act by inserting notice in Star, first to appear on Saturday, 11th April, and second on 18th April. Enclosed yo"u will please find, cheque in payment of lease of area. Kindly inform me if all correct. Yours, &c, W. S. Meldrum, Secretary. G Mueller, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland. 7—l. 4a.